Child abuse victims lied, claims wife

The wife of a Lower Hutt man jailed for nine years for sexually abusing four young nieces told the High Court at Wellington today her husband's victims created a "concoction of lies" for financial compensation.

The 46-year-old former painter was convicted of abusing three nieces -- one who was seven-years-old when he began raping her -- and a great-niece over a 26-year period from 1976 to 2002.

A jury found him guilty on 31 counts including rape, indecent assault and inducing an indecent act.

His wife urged Justice Mackenzie to consider their three children who were at "a most vulnerable stage in their lives" during today's sentencing hearing.

"In spite of apparent compelling evidence against my husband, I believe he is a victim of gross injustice in this court," she said.

His nieces had conspired against her "faithful and loyal" husband because they could be awarded huge sums in Accident Compensation Corporation payouts, she said.

The man's lawyer, Bill Johnson, said the accusations against his client were not unusual in the family.

There was a breach of trust, but not a gross breach of trust, and his offending was opportunistic rather than predatory, he said.

However, crown prosecutor Brooke Gibson said the convictions were not allegations. "They are proven facts."

Claims about compensation had not been put to the victims in cross-examination. "They are entirely rejected."

"There is no acknowledgement by him and no remorse," he said. "The Crown accepts there will be an impact on his family but that's a matter he has brought on his family."

Justice Mackenzie said an assault on his 16-year-old great-niece in 2002 had led to the other three victims coming forward.

"This was systemic sexual abuse within the confines of the family with victims at an age where they were most vulnerable to your actions... At their homes or family homes where they were entitled to feel safe."

The man had robbed the three older victims of their childhood and one had said he "had sucked the joy out of her life".

It was his right to continue to deny his sexual abuse but his attitude prevented his victims from having a sense of closure, he said.

Justice Mackenzie suppressed the man's name to protect the identity of his victims.

- NZPA